Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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176. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if, with regard to the Indecon report entitled Review of Certain Aspects of the Irish Horse Racing Industry, he will provide an update on the provision of a seat on Horse Sport Ireland for a northern representative; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43016/23]

Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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177. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide an update on the seat of the Northern Ireland Horse Board on the Horse Sport Ireland breeding and production advisory council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43017/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 176 and 177 together.

I understand that the Board of Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) is currently reviewing its Constitution.  In this regard, Clause 39 of the Constitution outlines how the Board is composed.  Specifically, in relation to the representative of the horse sport industry in Northern Ireland, it states: “One person shall be appointed by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in consultation with the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, as nominated by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) and Sport Northern Ireland to represent the horse sport industry in Northern Ireland.”  

As this position has been vacant for some time, to try and progress this matter, officials in my Department met remotely with officials from the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) on two occasions to consider options to facilitate the appointment.  Our colleagues from DAERA have indicated that it is not possible to secure a nomination in line with the existing HSI Constitution at the present time.  

It was noted that NI Sports Forum, an umbrella organisation which represents the sports industry in NI, has a Board Recruitment Programme (nisf.net) which includes a database of people with a variety of skills who would be interested in joining a board.  This is considered the most appropriate way to facilitate a NI appointment.  However, it would require an amendment to the current Clause 39 of the HSI constitution.  Should the proposed amendment to the constitution be accepted by the Board of HSI, my Department would then issue a request to the NI Sports Forum for a nominee to represent the NI horse sport industry.

Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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178. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department engaged with the Northern Ireland Horse Board regarding provision of funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43018/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I am not currently engaged with the Northern Ireland Horse Board regarding the provision of funding to them as this organisation is outside my jurisdiction. 

As you may be aware Horse Sport Ireland are contracted to my Department to deliver National Breeding Services for the Sport Horse Sector and breeders based in NI are entitled to benefit from some of these initiatives.

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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179. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to explain the differences between the Irish injured jockeys fund, qualified riders accident fund company and the jockeys accident fund company limited by guarantee; the reason there is a need for three separate funds; and how each differs from the other. [43022/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (IHRB) is the regulatory body for all horseracing in Ireland. The IHRB is a company limited by guarantee. The Turf Club and the Irish National Hunt Steeplechase Committee (INHSC) transferred the regulatory functions together with related assets and liabilities to the company under a business transfer agreement on 1 January 2018.

The role of the IHRB as the regulatory body for horseracing is provided for in legislation. However, the body itself remains a private entity.

The IHRB has informed my Department that it provides personnel support for the funds or charities referenced below which are  administered by the Turf Club or  the INHSC.

The Jockeys Accident Fund (JAF)

Originally established in 1933 as a charitable entity to provide benefit for professional jockeys and apprentices who are injured either during a race meeting or in the schooling of horses.  Income for the fund is derived from volunteer levies on owner and jockey fees, and on jockey and apprentice annual licence fees, as well as investment income and voluntary donations. The JAF now operates as a company limited by guarantee.

The Qualified Riders Accident Fund (QRAF)

The QRAF  provides  financial support for  Qualified Riders (Amateur Jockeys) licensed by the IHRB, injured while racing including Point to Point racing. Income for the fund is derived from a levy on race entry fees and riding fees and on Qualified Rider annual licence fees, as well as investment income and voluntary donations. The QRAF is a company limited by guarantee.

In addition to providing benefits to eligible riders, both the QRAF and JAF provide funding for the completion of relevant research designed to benefit rider health, safety and wellbeing.

The Irish Injured Jockeys (IIJ)

The  aim of this charity is to increase awareness and raise vital funds to support injured jockeys.  The IIJ  provides an additional layer of care and support for the other  funds, with individual cases presented by the other funds to the Board of the IIJ and approved by the Directors before any support is made available. The IIJ  may also help in individual cases that fall outside the remit of the other funds including help for jockeys in their secondary careers and or careers post racing.